The dog is understood to have belonged to the home and is currently being kept in quarantine after being taken in by GNR police, and will be monitored by a vet to determine its level of aggressiveness.
Newspaper Correio da Manhã claims the animal was a cross between a Labrador and a boxer, and allegedly belonged to the daughter of the home’s owner.
She claimed the animal was friendly and was used to mingling with the home’s residents since a puppy.
The incident happened on Monday, when the dog reportedly went for the elderly woman’s throat and bowled her over.
The woman is believed to have been one of eight residents at the home, and was attacked during a walk in the property’s gardens.It has since emerged that social security say the home is unlicensed.